Plant cover with insect resistant bag for enclosing a plant

Abstract

A plant cover apparatus includes a bag having an interior encompassed by a wall that extends from a top end of the bag and tapers inwardly to a bottom end of the bag. The bottom end includes a rim that laterally circumscribes a plant-receiving opening formed through the bag. The bag has a slot that extends vertically from the opening through the wall. The slot includes opposed margins having cooperatively interlocking parts that can temporarily be joined and separated to increase the size of the opening. The bag may be vertically suspended from a support member positioned next to the plant. An exterior perimeter of the bag may be rigid enough to help the bag maintain its shape when suspended.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A plant cover device comprising:
 an enclosure comprising a plurality of panels coupled together to define a plant-receiving cavity therein, each of the plurality of panels comprising
 a major mesh surface, and 
 a seam extending along a peripheral edge of the major mesh surface, adjacent panels being coupled together at respective seams, 
 
 the plurality of panels defining
 a first mesh section, respective seams and adjacent mesh surfaces of the first mesh section terminating at a sealed top end, 
 a second mesh section integral with the first mesh section, the second mesh section defining a bottom end opposite the sealed top end, and 
 a trunk receiving opening at the bottom end; and 
 
 a support extending vertically from a ground surface to abut the sealed top end of the enclosure. 
 
     
     
       2. The plant cover device of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a first vertical support extending vertically from the ground surface to abut the sealed top end of the enclosure, and a plurality of arms extending horizontally from the first vertical support to support the enclosure. 
     
     
       3. The plant cover device of  claim 1  wherein the second mesh section comprises tapering sides. 
     
     
       4. The plant cover device of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a tubular stake, and a cap on a top end of the tubular stake. 
     
     
       5. The plant cover device of  claim 1  further comprising a closure device wrapped around the enclosure. 
     
     
       6. The plant cover device of  claim 1  further comprising a fastener adjacent the peripheral edge of a respective panel and extending from the trunk receiving opening. 
     
     
       7. The plant cover device of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a stake, and a cap over the stake, the cap to abut the sealed top end of the enclosure. 
     
     
       8. The plant cover device of  claim 1  wherein the cap comprises one of plastic and rubber. 
     
     
       9. The plant cover device of  claim 1  wherein the support comprises plastic. 
     
     
       10. A plant cover assembly comprising:
 a plant; 
 a support extending vertically from a ground surface adjacent the plant; 
 an enclosure to be positioned over the support and the plant, the enclosure comprising a plurality of panels coupled together to define a plant-receiving cavity therein, the plant-receiving cavity receiving the plant, each of the plurality of panels comprising
 a major mesh surface, and 
 a seam extending along a peripheral edge of the major mesh surface, adjacent panels being coupled together at respective seams, 
 the plurality of panels defining a first mesh section, respective seams and adjacent mesh surfaces of the first mesh section terminating at a sealed top end to abut the support, 
 a second mesh section integral with the first mesh section, the second mesh section defining a bottom end opposite the sealed top end, and 
 a trunk receiving opening at the bottom end. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The plant cover assembly of  claim 10  wherein the support comprises a first vertical support extending vertically from the ground surface to abut the sealed top end of the enclosure, and a plurality of arms extending horizontally from the first vertical support to support the enclosure. 
     
     
       12. The plant cover assembly of  claim 10  wherein the second mesh section comprises tapering sides. 
     
     
       13. The plant cover assembly of  claim 10  wherein the support comprises a tubular stake, and a cap on a top end of the tubular stake. 
     
     
       14. The plant cover assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a closure device wrapped around the enclosure. 
     
     
       15. The plant cover assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a fastener adjacent the peripheral edge of a respective panel and extending from the trunk receiving opening. 
     
     
       16. A method of covering a plant with a plant cover device, the method comprising:
 providing the plant cover device with an enclosure comprising a plurality of panels coupled together to define a plant-receiving cavity therein, each of the plurality of panels comprising a major mesh surface, and a seam extending along a peripheral edge of the major mesh surface, adjacent panels being coupled together at respective seams; 
 positioning the plant within the plant cover device by lowering the enclosure over the plant through the trunk receiving opening; and 
 suspending the enclosure with a support extending vertically from a ground surface to abut a sealed top end of the enclosure so that the plurality of panels define
 a first mesh section, respective seams and adjacent mesh surfaces of the first mesh section terminating at the sealed top end, and 
 a second mesh section integral with the first mesh section, the second mesh section defining a bottom end opposite the sealed top end, and the trunk receiving opening at the bottom end. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the support comprises a first vertical support extending vertically from the ground surface to abut the sealed top end of the enclosure, and a plurality of arms extending horizontally from the first vertical support to support the enclosure. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16  wherein the second mesh section comprises tapering sides. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16  wherein the enclosure comprises a fastener adjacent the peripheral edge of a respective panel and extending from the trunk receiving opening. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16  further comprising positioning a closure device wrapped around the enclosure.